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your explanation for the incidents, Maggie?”
    “Perhaps I should go over it with you later, Josh,” she said hastily. “You've been given enough to analyse for the moment. Dessert, anyone?” She jumped to her feet and began clearing the table with quick, anxious movements.
    Josh watched her with amusement. Her gaze slid away from his as she loudly stacked dishes. It was clear she realized that the pet theories of her fellow residents at Peregrine manor were ridiculous. She wasn't anxious to give him another explanation to mock.
    “Dessert sounds great.” Josh was surprised to discover he actually felt quite content sitting in Peregrine Manor's dining room surrounded by the engaging bunch of eccentric lunatics.
    Things were looking up. Either that or be was losing it fast.
    “Always did like a man with a healthy appetite,”
    Shirley remarked as she got to her feet. “Now, never mind those dishes, Maggie. You know the Colonel and me are the ones who do the clearing up around here.
    You know, my Ricky would eat like a horse. 'Course, he needed a lot of energy in his line of work. Expect you do too, eh. Josh?”
    “Yes, ma'am,” Josh agreed. “I lost my appetite for a while after my accident, but I seem to be getting it back.” He deliberately caught Maggie's eye. “For a lot of things.”
    “I'll get the apple pie,” Maggie said. She vanished into the kitchen as if pursued by small demons.
    Odessa smiled knowingly at Josh. “You're having quite an effect on our Maggie.”
    The Colonel gave Josh a man-to-man look. “You go easy with her, sir. Don't tease her unless you're serious. Our Maggie is a small-town girl. She isn't used to dealing with men of your stamp.”
    “Men of my stamp?” Josh arched an eyebrow.
    “Now, you know what I mean,” the Colonel continued calmly. “You've got the look of a man who's accustomed to going after what he wants. All I'm saying is, don't go after our Maggie unless you're real sure you want her. We're right fond of our Maggie. Wouldn't want to see her get hurt, if you take my meaning.”
    “I take your meaning.” Josh leaned back in his chair and eased his injured foot carefully out in front of himself under the table. He tried to recall the last time he had been warned off a woman but could not. “You all know Maggie well?” he asked casually.
    “Oh, my, yes,” Odessa offered. “We all saw a lot of her when she was growing up. Her parents lived in Washington. Maggie spent most of her summer vacations here at Peregrine Manor. Haven't seen as much of her in recent years, of course. Not until Aggie died and left her the manor. But we've all kept in touch. Her folks have retired to Arizona but they get up here at least once every summer.”
    Josh fiddled idly with his coffee cup as he delicately probed for information. The technique was second nature to him after all these years in the business. “What's she been doing with herself in the past few years?”
    “After she got out of high school she went off to college and became a librarian,” Odessa explained. “She's been working at it ever since in a couple of different towns around the state. She gave up her last position when she inherited this place. Her folks were against the notion, but Maggie insisted.”
    “Her boyfriend must have had a few thoughts about Maggie changing careers and moving here to Peregrine Point,” Josh observed. He realized he was suddenly tense, waiting for the response that would tell him if Maggie was involved with someone.
    “Boyfriend? Maggie doesn't have any boyfriends.”
    Shirley gave a snort. “Not unless you count that Clay O'Connor fella.”
    “O'Connor?” Josh repeated gently.
    “New in town as of last year,” the Colonel said, looking concerned. “Opened up a real-estate office.
    Seems to be doing fairly well. He and Maggie have started going out to .dinner together lately. Took in a movie last week”
    Josh listened to the nuances in the Colonel's tone.
    “You